Public college counseling expands after ban on private student record use, but students say it's not enough

South Korea's education ministry has banned private cram schools and admissions consulting firms from using student records for commercial purposes, aiming to curb private education spending and promote fairness in college admissions. The new law, effective September 29, prohibits these firms from leveraging students' academic and extracurricular achievements, which are crucial for university applications.

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I want to apply to the Political Science and International Relations departments at University A and University D through early admissions. My student record seems more suited for International Relations, but should I change my top choice major?

To fill the gap, the ministry is bolstering public counseling services. Platforms like 'University Admission Information Portal' (Udi) offer detailed advice from experienced counselors based on student records, guiding students on major suitability, application strategies, and areas for further exploration. The Udi service, staffed by about 500 counselors with an average of 13 years of experience, handles around 250 students on a first-come, first-served basis weekly, with responses typically within two weeks. General admissions counseling based on grades and past results is available without session limits.

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The current student record emphasizes analyzing international social phenomena from various perspectives. If you prioritize Political Science, you need to supplement your exploration with studies focused on political science itself, such as political parties and policy-making processes.

Regional education offices are also expanding their support. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education is running a special admissions counseling center, and the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education plans a "Summer Vacation Intensive College Admissions Counseling Month." However, concerns remain about the adequacy of these public services. Critics argue that limiting public counseling to 250 students per week is insufficient for the over 410,000 students who took the June mock college entrance exam. Some parents and students miss the comparative data and predictive services offered by private firms, which they found more accurate due to real applicant simulations.

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Although it felt like they were recommending a conservative, lower-risk application, their advice was helpful because it was based on college admissions data.

The Ministry of Education plans to further expand public counseling channels and services. It is developing AI-powered admissions prediction and student record counseling for the 2028 academic year, in collaboration with schools, education offices, and the Korea Council for University Education. The goal is to provide more accessible and reliable guidance, addressing the persistent demand for college admissions support.

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While private tutoring is illegal, telling us to use public counseling with a limit of 250 students per week is top-down administration.